NABU explains when Mindich and Tsukerman may be declared wanted

The NABU detective division head Oleksandr Abakumov stated this in a comment to Ukrinform, responding to a question about whether Mindich and Tsukerman will be placed on the wanted list.

“There is a legal procedure we must follow, and it requires some time. Once we complete all steps related to selecting a preventive measure, and after submitting the necessary requests to the competent international law enforcement bodies to issue a search notice, we will inform the public,” he said.

As reported earlier, on November 10, the NABU announced a special operation exposing corruption in the energy sector. According to investigators, members of a criminal organization had established a large-scale scheme to influence strategic state-owned enterprises, including Energoatom.

The primary activity of the organization was the systematic receipt of unlawful benefits from Energoatom’s contractors. These illicit payments amounted to 10%–15% of contract values.

Anti-corruption bureau officers conducted searches at the home of businessman and Kvartal 95 co-owner Timur Mindich, as well as at the residence of Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, who previously served as Energy Minister.

The NABU later clarified that seven individuals are suspects in the case: a businessman believed to be the leader of the criminal organization; a former adviser to the Energy Minister; Energoatom’s Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security; and four “back-office” employees responsible for money laundering. Five suspects are currently detained.

According to the State Border Guard Service, Mindich left Ukraine before the NABU searches. It is also known that another suspect — Oleksandr Tsukerman — has left the country.

On November 13, President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the National Security and Defense Council’s decision to impose personal sanctions on Mindich and Tsukerman.

Photo: facebook/Serhii Marchenko